Seven Premier League players have been called-up to Argentina’s preliminary squad ahead of this summer’s Copa America tournament.

Tottenham forward Erik Lamela, Manchester United duo Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo, Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis and Sergio Aguero have all been included within the 30-man squad. Swansea City defender Federico Fernandez completes the Premier League contingent.

Lamela’s struggle to justify the £30 million price tag paid to Roma last summer has continued this season, though a return of two goals and six assists in the league is still an improvement on his first campaign at White Hart Lane.

As for Di Maria, early season promise quickly faded for the former Real Madrid star. The £59.7 million signing has not scored for Louis van Gaal’s side since the 2-0 FA Cup victory over Yeovil back in January.

Di Maria has not started for United since being sent off against Arsenal, also in the FA Cup, as Arsene Wenger’s side claimed a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford back in March.

Ten Premier League stars with something to prove

Ten Premier League stars with something to prove

1/9
Radamel Falcao

Manchester United
Once heralded as the world’s best out-and-out striker, the Colombian has been a shadow of his former self since arriving on loan from AS Monaco last summer.
Manchester United have the option to make the deal permanent, but at £43 million, a 29-year-old striker with just four Premier League goals to name hardly presents an attractive proposition.
Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez is impressing on loan at Real Madrid, and Van Gaal may way see the Mexican as far better, not to mention cheaper, alternative to the former Atletico Madrid and Porto star.

2/9
Oscar

Chelsea
The Brazil international started the season with his usual panache, with four league goals to his name by the start of November.
But the 23-year-old has since added just three more strikes to his tally, and we understand that Jose Mourinho is considering his future at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are desperate to bring France international Paul Pogba to West London in the summer, and unless Oscar can kick himself into gear in the final weeks of the season, he could be the one to make way for the talented Juventus midfielder.

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3/9
Theo Walcott

Arsenal
John F. Kennedy once mused that you “'cannot negotiate with people who say 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable’”. The same can be said for Theo Walcott.
The ‘will he, won’t he’ contract saga surrounding the Arsenal star wrangles on, with the winger holding out for a £10,000 a week pay rise to bump his salary up to a mouth-watering £100,000.
It’s good work if you can get it, but Arsenal are right to question such an expense. Arsene Wenger is keen to keep the former Southampton man, but having made just nine Premier League appearances this term, Walcott is playing a risky game with such a questionable return.

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4/9
Raheem Sterling

Liverpool
Like Walcott, Sterling is another struggling to master the contractual dance.
Having already turned down a £100,000-a-week deal, and labelling Arsenal’s reported interest in him as ‘flattering’, the England starlet ruffled Liverpool’s feathers further when he popped-up with unsanctioned interview with the BBC last month – not to mention shisha gate.
With Luis Suarez long gone, Steven Gerrard on his way out, and Daniel Sturridge sidelined once more, his importance to Brendan Rodgers side has never been greater.
The Anfield faithful are starting to grow tired of the noise, and with four games remaining, Sterling ought to follows Philippe Coutinho’s lead and do his talking on the pitch.

5/9
Yaya Toure

Manchester City
From birthday cakes to party strops, Yaya Toure has gone from being one of league’s top talents to a borderline has-been this season.
The transfer rumblings suggest a reunion with Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan next season is on the cards, but with Manuel Pellegrini’s future less than certain at the Etihad, the Ivorian has the opportunity in these final weeks to show any prospective new boss that he not only wants to stay, but can recapture the form that fired City to the Premier League title last season.
The ball’s in your court, Yaya.

6/9
Angel Di Maria

Manchester United
You’d need a pretty hefty fist to hold £59.7 million, and the Argentine has certainly failed to live up to expectations since his mega-money move to Old Trafford.
Hailed as one of the signings of the summer, the former Real Madrid star has struggled to maintain his early season exploits, and is currently being outshone by the once maligned Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini.
He is yet to start a game since receiving a red card in United’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat at home Arsenal last month and, with talk of PSG reigniting their interest in the winger, as well as Louis van Gaal keenness to sign Dutch star Memphis Depay this summer, Di Maria longterm future at the club is anything but secure.

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7/9
Juan Cuadrado

Chelsea
Like his Colombian compatriot Falcao, Cuadrado is another whose performances – or lack thereof – have raised enough eyebrows to match a Carlo Ancelotti scrapbook.
Signed from Fiorentina for £27 million in January, the winger has failed to etch his way into Mourinho’s starting line-up.
He has time on his side, the Chelsea boss has already publically committed his patience to the winger, but Chelsea fans will be hoping to see more from him before the season ends.
It doesn’t help that Mohamed Salah, sent to Italy on loan as part of the deal, is banging in goals for fun in Serie A.

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8/9
Jack Wilshere

Arsenal
The future of English football has gone up in smoke again this season.
His campaign has been curtailed once more through injury, but having made just 58 league appearances over the past four seasons, you have to wonder whether he is simply the British incarnation of Abou Diaby.
When fit, Wilshere has failed to rekindle the level of performance that spurred not only Arsenal fans, but England ones too, to stand up and take notice.
Perhaps talk of a summer move to Manchester City would not be as disastrous as Arsenal fans once feared, particularly with an offer of £30 million being muted.

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9/9
Steven Gerrard

Liverpool
It’s been a tough year for Stevie G. Having seen Liverpool’s title hopes slip beneath his feet last season, his international career ended with England’s dismal showing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The pre-contract signed with MLS giants LA Galaxy was meant to herald a storybook send off for the Anfield legend, but his red card against rivals Manchester United in March, just 38 seconds after coming off the bench, has personified the sorry end to a true Premier League great.
He has done enough, and given enough, during his career to hold no reservations over the legacy he leaves behind, but you can’t help but feel Gerrard owes it to himself to send one final reminder to English football of the jewel in the crown he once was.